Inside the Rabelaisian Sileni Box

Abstract

Professor David M. Boje is the agent provocateur of the postmodern era. Famed as a scholar, one of those precious few scholars who can actually make postmodernism accessible and meaningful, David provokes us through the gift of perspective. David’s work moves us by giving us insight into the unseen and by helping us to engage the mystery that lies just beyond our regular comprehension. And if we consider perspective gaining for a moment, we find that is exactly what our scholarly work is about: We give the gift of perspective, for with newperspectives our students, and indeed all of us, move forward. As you read David’s address, you will find yourself provoked through a story of Bakhtin and dialogue, murals and McDonald’s. David moves us to realize the power we scholars have through our gifts of language and knowledge to create perspective, to enable, and to move forward.